Hydraulic system for closing water-tight bulkheads on board ships



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. B. GOWLES. HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FOR CLOSING WATER TIGHTBULKHEADS ON BOARDSHIPS. No. 564,474. Patented July 21 I" It i. V

2 t e e h S S t e e h S 3 QM E L 0 O B d 0 M 0 m.

HYDRAULIC SYS TEMYFOR CLOSING WATER TIGHT BULKHEADS ON BOARD SHIPS.

.No. 56 4,47 4. Patented July 21,1896.

Hulk

(No Model.) ,3 Sheets-Sheet W. B.. GOWLBS. HYDRAULIU SYSTEM FOR CLOSINGWATER TIGHT BULKHEADS ON 4 BOARD SHIPS.

No. 564,474. Patented Ju1y 21, 1896 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BARNUM COWLES, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FOR CLOSING WATER-TIGHT BULKHEADS ON BOARD SHIPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,474, dated July 21,1896.

Application filed April 15, 1896. Serial No. 587,660. (No model.)

To all, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BARNUM COWLES, a, citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvement-s in HydraulicSystems for Closing WVaterTTight Bulkheads on Board Ships and for otherPurposes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates especially to improvements in apparatus for openingand closing doors, hatches, ports, valves, cocks, gates, operatingsemaphores,tri'pping anch0rs,dr0pping life-buoys, and indicating andautomatically registering the movements of mechan ical devices aboardship or elsewhere, but it is especially intended for use on board ship.

The objects of my invention are, first, to construct an apparatus whichshall be simple, durable, positive in its action, reliable, and notlikely to get out of order, by means of which a mechanical devicesituated at a distance from the operatingpoint maybe moved with acontinuously-registered and perfectly-controlled motion, and by methodswhich enable said motion to be reversed or locked in any part of itstravel; second, to construct a combination of such apparatus whereby twoor more independent mechanical devices, which may be widely separatedand of varying types, may be independently and systematically operated,controlled, continuously registered, and looked, all from the samepoint, central station, or operatingboard, and by one operator; third,to construct a combination of such apparatus where.

by in cases of emergency any number or the devices so connected to anoperating-board may be simultaneously operated, controlled, registered,and locked from a point at a distance from said board by'a secondoperator and by means entirely independent of the first operator;fourth, to construct a combination of such apparatus with mechanism forswinging a door through a half-circle and clamping it on a water-tighton fireproof seat, so that the combination thereby obtained may be usedby the first operator at the operatrow in Fig. 1.

ing-board for the ordinary working of the water-tight doors, &c., on aship, or in other places, and may be used by a second operator, in casesof emergency, to simultaneously close all of said doors, &c.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which the same partsare indicated by the same letters throughout the several views.

Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic view of a primary system connected toa swinging door for a water-tight compartment, showing in full linesthedoor in its closed position and in dotted lines the door in its openposition. Fig. 2 represents an elevation of the swingingdoor'and themechanism for operating the same, looking in the direction of the ar-Fig. 3 represents a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 33 ofFig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 represents asimilar sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, looking in thedirection of the arrows. Fig. 5 represents a sectional view of thesix-way controlling-valve,

taken on the line 5 5 of'Fig. 6; and Fig. 6

represents a vertical sectional view of the same on the line 6 6 ofl ig.5 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

system, showing three operating and three indicating cylindersconnected, up in pairs, with a controlling-valve between eachoperating-cylinder and the corresponding indicating-cylinder, and aseparate pair of cylinders connected by an emergency or controllingvalve, whereby all 01": the cylinders may be simultaneously operated.

My invention in its most simple form consists of two cylinders A and B,both filled with fluid under pressure, and of equal piston displacement,the piston of the cylinder A being connected with a door,"valve, signal,or other device to be operated, and the other cylinder B being connectedto the cylinderA by pipes C c and O c, which are also filled with fluidunder pressure, and the fluid forced out of one end of the cylinder Abythe motion of its piston will cause a corresponding travel of the pistonin the cylinder B, which travel may be indicated by a pointer 12,attached to the piston-rod b and moving over the scale X.

The pipes C c and O 0 connect with asix- Fig. 7 represents adiagrammatic view of the complete way valve D, placedbetween thecylinders A" and B, to which valve are also connected the supply-pipe Cand the exhaust-pipe C so that fluid passing into or from the system, orfrom one cylinder to the other, must pass through the six-way valve D.

The six-way valve D consists of a cylindrical or conical casingD',having the six equidistant vents 1, 2, 3, 4-, 5,and 6,each adapted toreceive one of the pipes G, c, C, c, or C and a cylindrical valve-plug Dadapted to fit snugly and turn inthe valve-casing D. This valve-plug hasthree curvedpassages d,d,and (1 each adapted to connect two adjacentvents in the casing D, as shown in Fig. 5. A smaller passage 61 throughthe center of the plug connects the two passages (Z and d, butisnormally closedby the screw-plug D which passes down through thevalve-stem D across the passage 61 The valve-plug D is heldin positionin the casing by the cap D which is screwed down or suitably adjustedinside of the upper end ofthe casing D. This cap is provided with afriction packing-rim g d which'bearsupon a similar packing-ring d onthetopof the valve plug D and the said valve-plug may be journaled in thebase of thecasing D, as at d. The stem D of the valve-plug D passesthrough the cap D and has secured to its upper end ahandle D, by meansof which the valve-plug may be turned.

In Figs. land 2 l have shown the operatingcylinder A connected'to'thedoor of awatertight compartment, such as are usedon modern ships, but itwill beevident that such a cylinder might be employed to operate variouskinds of devices, such as valves, signals, or the'like.

Referring'to Figs. 1 to 4:, E indicates the door of the water-tightcompartment, which isprovided with the locking-bolts F F, arranged toslide insuitable guide-brackets e on the inside of the door near itsedges. The bolts F F are beveled, as at f, at their outer ends to presson the beveled edges g of the door-frame G, when the boltsare forcedoutwardly from the middle of the door, and thus to draw the edges 6 ofthe door closely againstthe gaskets g in the frame. Near the middle ofthedoor is-journaled in suitable bearings, as e avertical shaft 11-,having crank-arms h, which are connected by links 72. with theinner endsof the bolts F at the edge of the door nearest the hinges E. The bolts Fat the outer or opening edge of the door are connected to the levers fpivoted to the door, as at f by connecting-rodsf, which box G, securedto the inside of the frame of the door a little back of' and oirtlleopposite side from the hinges E. The short arm of the T-lever I isconnected by a rod or with the end of the piston-rod a of the cylinderA.

To prevent the possibility of the bolts F F being thrown out when thedoor is open, a locking device is provided which will lock the shaft Hwhen .the said bolts are Withdrawn. This locking device consists of arod K, having at its outer end a head K, beveled, as at 7c,and havingits inner end enlarged andprovided with a short slot 7c,through whichpasses the vertical shaft H, This shaft is provided with a keyway its,and the rod K is provided with a lug or key projecting into the slot 70at its end farthest from the head jK. The rod K is supportedinguide-brackets c and is provided withaspring k interposed between one ofthe guide-brackets-and:

the headK, whichserves to keep the key 70 gin engagement! with thekeyw-ay 7L3 in: the

ishaft H, thus locking the same and prevent- Eing it from turning whilethe door is open. {When the door is closed, the bevel 7r, 0f the ,head Krides upon the edge of 'thedoorframe-Gr and forces the rod K backagainst ithe tension of the spring Wand pushes the ikey k out of thekeyway 71, in the Vertical shaft I-I, lcavin g the latter free-to turnin its bearings, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3.

The operation of the foregoing part of my jinvention is as follows: Theparts being gfilled with fluid under pressure and in the iclosedposition, as shown-in Figs. 1 to G, sup ;pose additional fluid-pressureto be admitted .through the pipe G and thence through the E passage d ofthe valve D to the pipe 0,

then to the end A of the cylinder A, forcing or holding the end a of thepiston-rod to the left within the cylinder A. The pressure from theopposite side of the piston will be ftransmitted through the pipe 0, asindicatedby the-arrows, and passage d of the valve D- to the pipe 0,then to theend B of the illdicating or telltale cylinder B, forcing orholding the end I) of the piston-rod down within the cylinder B. @theother end of the cylinderB will be transmitted through the pipe 0 andthe passage d of the valve D to the exhaust-pipe 0. Thus the pressure inthe cylinder A will hold the piston in its rearward position, tendiingtopull upon the rod a the T-lever I, the 'rod I, and the vertical shaftI-I, holding the :door closed and'locked, while the pressure in ithecylinder B will hold the piston in its inner position, causing thepointer b on the endof the piston-rod to indicate theclosed position,(marked 0 on thescale X.) Should ithe handle D of the valve D be turnedto the central position shown in heavy dotted lines, it would turn thevalve-plug D to close all the openings and passages in the valve D andno movement of the fluid or pistons could take place. This wouldpractically lock the system in either an open or closed The pressurefronr position, or in any intermediate position. Should the handle D beturned to the position shown in fine dotted lines, the valveplug D wouldbe turned so that its passage 61 would connect the vents 2 and 3, itspassage d would connect the vents l and 6, and its passage d wouldconnect the vents 4E and 5. The fluid from the pressure-pipe 0 wouldthen pass through the passage 01 to the pipe 0, as indicated by thedotted arrows, and en ter the end A of the cylinder A, forcing thepiston toward the end A, and forcing the fluid from that end of thecylinder through the pipe 0 and the passage cl of the valve, asindicated by the dotted arrows, through the pipe 0 tothe end 13 0f theindicating or telltale cylinder B, forcing its piston toward the end B,and forcing the fluid from that end of the cylinder through the pipe 0and passage d of the valve D to the exhaust-pipe 0 This will cause thepistons in the two cylinders A and B to move in unison and the pointer bon the end I) of the piston-rod to indicate on the scale X the positionof both pistons, whether they are in the open or closed position'oi anyintermediate position. The pressure-pipe O is provided with a checkvalve0 which is arranged to prevent the fluid from passing backward throughthe said pipe, and the exhaust-pipe C is provided with a relief-valve 0arranged to exert a slight back pressure upon the fluid to prevent itsescape from the system except when forced out by the movement of thepistons. This pressure-pipe C is connected to any suitable source offluid pressure, .(not shown,) while the exhaust-pipe is connected to anysuitable receptacle adapted to permit the discharge of fluid thereinto.The outward movement of the end a of the piston-rod of the cylinderAwill move the rod (1, T-lever I, rod I, and turn the shaft H to thefirst position. (Shown in dotted lines.) This will slide the bolts F andF inwardly and unlock the door. Further pressure upon the rod a willswing the door open and move the several parts to the open position, asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. As the door swings open the head K ofthe rod K moves off from the edge of the frame, and the spring willthrow the said rod outwardly, causing the keyk to engage the keyway h inthe shaft H, which is then in position to receive it. Thus the saidshaft H is locked from turning until released when the door is closed,as will now be described.

When the handle D is thrown to the position shown in Fig. 1, the fluidis admitted to the end A of the cylinder A, drawing the end a of thepiston-rod in and pulling on the rod 6:, which in turn pulls on theT-lever I and by means of the rod I swings the door closed. As the doorcloses the bevel edge of the head K rides up on the edge'of thedoor-frame and forces the rod K inward, releasing the key 10 from thekeyway 7L3 and allowing the last part of the pull on the crank 77, toturn the shaft H and slide the locking-bolts over the beveled edge ofthe door-frame, thus locking the door tightly upon the gaskets Myinvention also contemplates placing a number of six-Way valves D in agroup, as shown in Fig. 7, which may be termed a switchboard, in someconvenient place for handling the same, and-connecting each one by thepipes C O with an operating-cylinder A, placed at a distant point whereit may be desirable to operate a door, valve, signal, or other device,so that one operator at the group of valves D will be able to control alarge number of doors or other devices. Each valve is provided with anindicating-cylinder B, so connected as to indicate the position of thepiston in the corresponding cylinder A, so that the operator can see ifeach of the cylinders A is doing its work properly. In this instance allthe valves D are connected with a common pressure-main 0 leading from asuitable supply-tank, (not shown in the drawings,) and they alldischarge into a common exhaust-main 0 as will be seen by referencetoFig.'7. v

e I also contemplate placing a primary or emergency system with itsvalve D and indicating-cylinder B at some point, as, for instance, onthe bridge or in theconning-tower of a man-of-war, or several suchemergency attachments may be each connected to the main system and eachindependently operated to control the entire system. This emergencysystem may be caused to simultaneously operate all the various units orpart of such units in the main system in a great variety of Ways, one ofwhich I have shown in Fig. 7, where the piston-rod of the emergencyoperating-cylinder A of such primary system is connected with a bar M,to which are pivoted auxiliary levers m on the stems of all the valves Dof the group of valves and indicators constituting the switchboard justdescribed. By this means the operator, on the discovery of impendingdanger, can, by turning the handle D of the emergency system, throw allof the valves of the group into the safety position, which in case ofcollision or the like would be to close all the compartment-doors. Inthis latter instance, the stems D of the valves D are made long enoughto receive the two levers D 'and m, and the key 01 is long enough toextend through both levers. The lever D is keyed on the stem in theusual manner to turn the valve in either direction by hand, but thelever 'm is slotted, as at m, to receive the key 61 so as to have alimited movement on the valve stem before communicating motion thereto.The levers m are so arrangedthat when in the open position, as shown inFig. 7, the slots m will be so placed that the valvestems may be turnedas far as necessary to operate the devices either way without moving thelevers m, but when the levers m are moved in the direction of the arrowthe end ICC m of the slot m will strike the key 61 and carry thevalve-stem around with it to the closing position, no matter in whatposition the valve may be at the time. The return movement of the leverson will not affect the valves, as the slot m will move over the key (1without moving the latter. A signal-bell N may be placedso as to be rungby teeth m on the bar M when the latter is moved, or other means fornoting the movement of the bar M may be used in addition to thetelltale-cylinder of the emergency system. Thus when the emergencysystem is operated, the operator at the group of valves or switchboardwill be warned of the danger, so that he may observe, by theindicating-cylinders, if all of the operating-cylinders are doing theirwork properly and take such steps as may be necessary for safety.

It will be obvious that registering-meters or other like indicators maybe adopted in place of the telltale-cylinders, the function of saidcylinders bein merely to indicate the position of the pistons in thecylinders A, as

determined by the flow of fluid therefrom or thereto. Moreover, it willbe evident that the mechanism operated by the pistons in the variouscylinders A may be varied at will without departing from the generalidea of my improved hydraulic operating and indicating system. Again,one emergency system may operate one set of valves, doors, or other devices located in, say, one part of the ship; another emergency systemmay operate a similar set of devices located elsewhere, &c. I

' cued and the fluid introduced through the pressure-pipe C from whence,if the handle D is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the fluid will passthrough the passage d, through the pipeO to the end A of the cylinder A,and also through the passage (Z to the passage (1, from whence it willpass through the pipe C to the endA of the cylinder A, and through thepipe 0 to the end B of the cylinder B, thus filling both ends of thecylinder A and the end B of the cylinder B. The handle D is then turnedto the position shown in fine dotted lines, and the fluid will passthrough the passage cl, the passage ah, the passage d, and the pipe 0 tothe end B of the cylinder B, thus filling the whole system.

To set the pistons in the two cylinders so that they will move in unisonafter the system has been filled, or after they have become disarrangedfrom any cause whatever, the handle D is turned to the position shown infull lines in Fig: 1, when, the screw-plug D being loosened to allow thefluid to pass through the passage d the piston in the cylinder A maybemoved to correspond with the position of the piston in the cylinder 13,the

fluid passing freelyfrom one end of cylinder A to the other through thepipes O O, the passages d d, and the passage d but not affooting thecylinder B. WVhen the two cylinders are in the proper relativepositions, the screw-plug D is screwed down to close the passage (iwhich places the system in operative condition.

In order that the doors, signals, and other devices may be operated byhand as well as by the cylinders A, the connecting-rods a are preferablydetachably connected either to the piston-rods or to the T-lever orother device to be operated, and thus the said devices may be uncoupledfrom the operating-cylinders when desired.

lVhile I have described my invention particularly with reference to itsuse aboard ship, it will be evident that it may be used on shore, as infactories, or in other relations needless to bespecifically enumerated.

Having thus described my invention, what .I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a hydraulic system of the character described, the combinationwith a plurality of fiuid-circuits, of an operating-cylinder in each ofsaid circuits, a piston in each of said cylinders,valves for controllingthe admission of fluid-pressure to said cylinders, with mechanismoperated by one of said pistons for controlling the valves of aplurality of the other cylinders, substantially as described.

2. In a hydraulic system of the character described, the combinationwith a plurality of fluid-circuits, of an operating-cylinder and anindicating device in each of said circuits, a piston in each of saidcylinders, a valve in each circuit for controlling the admission offluid-pressure to the cylinder in that circuit, with mechanism operatedby one of said pistons for controlling the valves of a plurality of theother cylinders, substantially as described.

a swinging door and mechanism for swinging the same operated by saidcylinders, a valve in each circuit for controlling the admission offluid-pressure to the cylinder in that circuit, with mechanism operatedby one of said cylinders for controlling the valves of a plurality ofthe other cylinders, substantially as described.

5. .In a hydraulic system of the character described, the combinationwith a plurality of fluid-circuits, of an operating-cylinderin eachpressure to said cylinders, with mechanism operated by one of saidcylinders for simultaneously controlling the valves of a plurality ofthe other cylinders, substantially as described.

6. In a hydraulic system of the character described, the combinationwith a plurality of fluid-circuits, of an operating-cylinder and anindicating device in each of said circuits, a valve in each circuitindependently controlled for regulating the admission of fluidpressureto the cylinder in that circuit, with mechanism operated by one of saidcylinders for simultaneously controlling the valves of a plurality ofthe other cylinders substantially as described.

7. In a hydraulic system of the character described, the combinationwith a plurality of fluid-circuits, of an operating-cylinder in each ofsaid circuits, a door and mechanism for moving the same operated by saidcylinder, valves independently controlled for regulating the admissionof fluid-pressure to said cylinders, with mechanism operated by one ofsaid cylinders for simultaneously controlling the valves of a pluralityof the other cylinders, substantially as described.

8. The mechanism for swinging a hinged door through approximately onehundred and eighty degrees about its hinges, comprising a T-leverpivoted on the opposite side of the door-frame from said hinges, areciprocating rod pivotally connected to one arm of said T- lever, acrank and crank-shaft journaled on said door, and a connecting-rodbetween the other arm of said T-lever and the said crank, substantiallyas described.

9. The mechanism for swinging a hinged door through approximately onehundred and eighty degrees about its hinges and for automatically.locking and unlocking said door comprising a reciprocating part, aT-lever pivoted on the opposite side of the door-frame from said hingesand connected to said reciprocating part, a crank and crank-shaftjonrnaled on said door, means for automatically locking said crank-shaftagainst revolution and for releasing the same when the door is inapproximately the closed position, bolts carried by said door, andmechanism operated by said crank-shaft when released for reciprocatingsaid bolts, substantially as described.

10. The mechanism for swinging a hinged door through approximately onehundred and eighty degrees about its hinges and for automaticallylocking and unlocking said door, comprising a. reciprocating part, aT-lever pivoted 011 the opposite side of the door-frame from said hingesand connected to said reciprocating part, a crank and crank-shaft journaled on said door, a spring-operated-rod normally locking saidcrank-shaft and provided With a Wedge-shaped head adapted to engage thedoor-frame when the door is in the closed position and to release saidcrankshaft, bolts carried by said door, and mechanism operated by saidcrank-shaft when released for reciprocating said bolts, substantially asdescribed.

11. The mechanism-for swinging a hinged door through approximately onehundred and eighty degrees about its hinges and for automaticall ylocking and unlocking said door comprising a reciprocating part, aT-lever pivoted on the opposite side of the door-frame from said hingesand connect-ed to said reciprocating part, a crank and crank-shaftjournaled on said door, means for automatically locking said crank-shaftagainst revolution and for releasing the same when the door is inapproximately the closed position, Wedgeshaped bolts sliding in guidescarried by the door, crank-arms on said crank-shaft, and linksconnecting said bolts with said crankarms, substantially as described.

12. The mechanism for swinging a hinged door through approximately onehundred and eighty degrees about its hinges and for auto maticallylocking and unlocking said door, comprising a reciprocating part, aT-lever pivoted on the opposite side of the door-frame from said hingesand connected to said reciprocating part, a crank and crank-shaftjournaled on said door, a spring-operated rod normally locking saidcrank-shaft and provided with a wedge-shaped head adapted to engage thedoor-frame when the door 'isin the closed position and to release saidcrank shaft, wedge-shaped bolts sliding in guides carried by the door,crank-arms on said crank-shaft, and links connecting said bolts withsaid crank-arms, substantially as described.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with arotary valve and valve-stem of a hand-crank rigidly connected to saidvalve-stem, and an auxiliary crank loose on said valve-stem and providedwith a curved slot, a lug or key on said valvestem engaging in said slotand allowing the valve-stem a limited rotary motion independent of saidauxiliary crank, with means for turning said auxiliary crank through thedesired angle in either direction, substantially as described.

14. In a hydraulic system of the character described, the combinationwith a cylinder and an operating-piston of a door, and mechanismoperated by said piston for moving said door, an indicating-cylinder, adouble system of pipes connected thereto, a pipe for supplyingfluid-pressure an d an exhaust-pipe, and a six-way valve located betweensaid cylinders and adapted to connect said supplypipe with either end ofsaid operating-cylinder, to connect the opposite end of theoperating-cylinder with one endof the indicatingcylinder, and to connectthe opposite end of the indicating-cylinder with the exhaust-pipe,substantially as described.

15. In a hydraulic system of the character described, the combinationwith an operatingcylinder and mechanism operated thereby, and areciprocating indicating device, of a double system of pipes connectingthe two, a pipe for supplying fluid-pressure and an exhaust-pipe, and asix-way valve placedbetween said cylinder and said device adapted toconnect said supply-pipe with either end of said operating-cylinder, toconnect the opposite end of the operating-cylinder with one end of theindicating device, and to connect 15 the opposite end of the indicatingdevice with the exhaust-pipe, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM BARNUM OOWLESQ lVitnesses:

CHARLES H. GAWOOD, EMILIE H. BELSHAN.

